Wipe Out

Our family has vacationed every year at Dale Hollow Lake.  It is a little slice of Heaven on Earth.  This lake has taught me a lot about life, love, family, friends, and laughter.  I have more Dale Hollow stories than I can count, and sometimes remember.  On a particular day, approximately 8 years ago, I learned a valuable lesson about helping one another, no matter the circumstances.

It was tradition, for a handful of years, to rent a wave runner for a day on the lake.  We did this before Kevin and I purchased a wave runner (that we no longer own because kids are expensive). If you know anything about wave runners and lakes, you know that to get gas, or to dock, there are wave runner docking pads.  You line the wave runner up with this pad, hit the gas, and run the wave runner up onto the docking pad.

On this particular day, our family decided to take a run down the lake to eat at another marina (not the one pictured above) called Sulphur Creek.  This is one of our favorite spots to eat, and we knew they had wave runner docking pads.  My brother Brock rode the wave runner while the rest of us rode in the boat.  Upon arrival, Brock ran the wave runner up on the dock while the rest of us tied the boat up. Everything was running smoothly…..until Brock decided to get off the wave runner.

Brock got off the wave runner to come get his shoes from the boat.  As he stepped off of the wave runner, and onto the wave runner dock, he realized just how slick those docks tend to be.  Two steps into his endeavor, his foot went out from under him, and  he flew backward onto his back….on the wave runner dock. He was fine.  Nothing was hurt, except maybe his pride.We all started laughing hysterically, including Brock.

After seeing all of this take place, my husband Kevin decides he is going to go help his stranded, pride hurt, brother-in-law.  Kevin is a good guy like that. Kevin walked over to the docking pad, stepped down onto the dock, and started to help Brock up.  About two seconds into this rescue mission, we watched as Kevin’s foot slipped, and he fell in the EXACT same way Brock had.  Kevin was also fine, but the rest of us burst into uncontrollable laughter.  The two peas in a pod finally pulled it together enough to help each other back to the safety of the wooden boat dock.  We still laugh to this day when this moment replays in our minds.

This story is hilarious, and I am laughing as I type this. It might be a had to be there to be funny moment, but I guarantee you are cracking at least a smile!

This incident does make me stop and think.  How often have we watched someone do something, get in a bind, and we run to help; only to end up on our back as well? Life experience tells me this happens a lot. We are to help one another, reach out to one another, support one another, and love one another.  We often do this without thinking, even if we just watched that person fall.

What would this world look like if more of us were like Kevin, and run to the aid of each other, rather than standing and laughing?  Help someone.  Talk to someone.  Listen to someone.  Be the person that helps no matter what.

Oh, and if you choose to step into something slightly foolish, make sure the camera is rolling. After all, a good laugh is good for the soul.